It's cold out, and I need to adjust to bird #s & problems

[r4eboxer]

I think you are concerned about your chickens and your actions, if you were not you would not have posted and asked for help. Post #18 has some great ideas to help you. Also what about filling water to capacity the night before so you don't have so much to lug in the mornings. I have found that if I add water twice a day I don't have to lug as much. The metal chicken waterers that have the small ring around the bottom that slowly allows water to flow do not freeze as fast. It was 19 degrees this morning and my waterer is in the run outside and all that was frozen was the inch long ring around the waterer. All I have to do is pull that ice out and the water flows. Of course in colder weather it will be worse but not every morning.

What type of coat are you wearing? If you have a down coat or a ski coat that is graded for below zero weather you should be warm and toasty outside. I know if I do not put on my down coat I don't want to be out very long. If I have my down coat on with my ear muff hat, gloves and long underwear underneath and my columbia boots I can spend the entire day outside. I spent all New Years weekend outside and it was very cold all day. You have to get the clothing to fit your weather. If your short on funds you can find very very cheap coats at goodwill or salvation army stores that are down and graded for sub zero. It just depends on how much you really want to care for your flock, you can always find a way. Either you will do or you wont, I hope you will.

 

[sourland]

As a politically incorrect old man, I will reiterate what others have said: either accept the responsibility and take proper care of your animals or get rid of them. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but it's really that simple.

 

[TinyChickenLady]

I'm probably going to sound harsh as well but I live in frigid Maine so I have the right to be this time of year.
We don't just have cold here, it's down right frigid and horrible. Plus, I'm a small person with low BP so I don't tolerate the cold well at all.

But guess what? I get up 10 minutes early (I loathe mornings) and I put on my coat and socks and mucks and I do what I have to do to keep those birds alive and healthy because I'm an adult who took on a responsibility. In the summer AND in the winter.

If you are not mature enough to REMEMBER to water your birds, then you probably shouldn't have them.

I understand you're a child, which makes me want to drill my point into your head even harder. Some kids just can't handle responsibility and maybe you are one of them. For now.

Send your birds to a home where they can be taken care of properly and try again in a year or so. If you are complaining about something that you initially wanted to begin with, then I honestly don't think you are mature enough to handle the "burden" and should show some maturity by doing the right thing and rehoming them.

If you refuse to send them to a good home where they'll be taken care of then you need to step up and take care of them yourself and stop complaining. Just do it.

 

[sheila3935]

Im old! Well 53 anyway. Our winters can get cold too. Last winter was a real pain this one not so much yet. I work a full time job with lots of screwy hours and I have reynaulds syndrome. My hands and feet dont tolerate the cold weather well. If I have to be at work at 6 am I go out to the coop and make sure all have clean fresh water and food. I also have dog bowls for water. It is something I have to do. They depend on me. It is something you have to do they depend on you. If an old lady like me can do it so can you. Would you go sledding with friends if they asked you? That is cold. And most times kids stay out for hours. A few extra minutes is worth seeing your chickens make it through winter. Winter is hard enough on them without having to go without water and your ducks could choke to death if they are eating food without water to wash it down with. Think how bad you would feel if you went out and one or more of them were dead because you didnt want to go outside. Im not trying to be mean just trying to make you see that a few minutes of discomfort for you is worth it for your animals.

 

[lcammack]

Just get in the habit of keeping gloves and hat in your car and go directly out there when you come home, then leave your car keys in the coop in a safe spot so you absolutely have to go out in the morning or you won't be driving anywhere! You should absolutely be checking there water twice a day in freezing temps because you won't know if your heated bowl is still working (they do stop working sometimes). Water is 100 times more important then food! Do whatever you have to, remeber somehow, or you should probably start keeping indoor pets only. Best of luck

 

[un-named]

Get a second heated dog dish and carry out 2 jugs of water when you go. Have a bucket that you can pour old water into, rinse the now empty bowl, and fill them. Throw the old water in the 5 gallon bucket out of the coop. Quick and easy. Twice a day is best and it won't take hardly any longer than going out to just feed!
Remember, they depend on you. Try going to school all day and not drink anything.... see how it feels. It surely feels the same for your birds.
You can do it

 

[DinosRBirds]

Quote:
they arent the burden, the weather is. They are a pleasure
i dont even know my blood pressure, but maybe that's it.
I am used to having only two chickens in the wintertime, because this is my second year, & second attempt!! I'm not used to this many chickens, and never had to visit the coop much last year at all.
I have trouble making new habbits, but these people have given me so much information that this might get easier.
I believe that the people above were right & the ducks are major culprits.
Its not that I don't want to its just that my memory is horibble.
I hate myself for it, and I need to get into the habit of adjusting to this amount of chickens.
I'm SAVING up for the 5 gal heated waterer so they won't run out as often.\\\\
They seem content, but I guess they don't know much.
I just want to make them comfortable, but its not pleasant and i need to get past that and make new habbits to adjust to the # of birds.
If I could choose to live in a southern state i wouldn't do it, but I would consider it, just for the sake of warmth.
That is how I think.
I have a short memory, I get sidetracke, and etc.
I'm just happy they're all still alive, & well.
Like i said, I need to adjust.
You all have made me realize that.

 

[mamachick27]

I don't know how old you are but I'm guessing you are quite young. Too young at least to have taken on the responsibility of caring for animals. It is not fair to your animals for you to be a "fair weather" friend. I'm sure in the beginning when the weather was nice it seemed like a great idea to have animals but now that the weather has changed it has become tedious and "unfun". My animals are an extension of my family and there isn't anything I wouldn't do to keep them safe and healthy. Stop making excuses for why you can't take care of them and give them to someone who will care for them. Once you have rehomed them you will have taken the first step towards a maturer you! As you mature then you can decide whether you want that responsibility rather than making a "knee-jerk" decision. Good luck to you!

 

[Tripp16]

Quote:
x2

 

[DinosRBirds]

Quote:
Thanks.
I've already tried some of this stuff since i've gotten home, and It works.